§ 79. Colonel Lord HENRY CAVENDISH- BENTINCKasked the Prime Minister what steps are being taken to utilise the services of prisoners of war, or by other means, to cultivate the 12,000 acres now under fallow, and also the land which, in spite of national necessities, now lies derelict; and whether he will consider the advisability of the Government now under taking the duty of increasing the acreage under tillage?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Acland)So far as the services of prisoners of war are concerned, I beg leave to refer my Noble Friend to the answer which I gave to his question on the subject on the 2nd instant. As regards other sources of labour, I can only say that they are hardly sufficient to keep the present area under crops in a good state of cultivation, and that I do not know of any labour which can at present be diverted to derelict land.